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Community Mental Health Course Outline 2024

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Rationale:

Mental health is an upcoming area of concern in India. Resources and services for mental and
behavioural disorders are disproportionately low compared to burden caused by these disorders
the world over. In most developing countries, including India, care programmes for the
individuals with mental and behavioural concerns have a low priority. Traditionally, mental
health services have been concentrated in tertiary-care hospitals. Provision of care, then, is
often limited to a small number of institutions, which are usually over-crowded and under
staffed. It is also known that a substantial proportion of people with mental health concerns,
particularly in developing countries, do not get appropriate care and treatment. Thus, large
segments of the population, particularly those who live in rural and remote areas, have been
deprived of such services. Over past several decades, the model of mental health care has
changed from the institutionalization of individuals to a community care approach. It is
important that individuals can access mental health services, at the door step. There is also a
need to increase awareness of mental health problems within the community and to create
culturally relevant models of community intervention.

The present course aims at introducing students to the perspectives on Community Mental
Health and its history in India and the world. The course offers an understanding of mental
health needs of populations in India and existing service responses from various stakeholders
including but not limited to the government, civil societies, care givers and traditional healers.
India is at the brink of adopting a new legislation in mental health care. The course acquaints
its students to legal frameworks for mental health care and their critical analysis. An
understanding of mental health issues is incomplete without the voices of user survivor of
psychiatric services which are often a missing feature in community mental health literature in
India. The course therefore offers visibility to the otherwise ignored voices of user survivors.

Objectives of the course: (Learner objectives)

1. To understand the need for a community mental health approach and its perspectives and
values
2. To develop an understanding of mental health problems commonly found within the
community and also the social and ecological contexts in which these problems develop.
3. To study historical developments in mental health sector in the world and in India.
4. To study mental health policies, programmes and legislations in India.
5. To sensitise professionals to the issues of mental health, human rights and lived experiences
of user survivors of mental health services

Detailed course content:

Unit I:

What is community mental health? Shifting from an individual to a community perspective and
social determinants of mental health in India. Values underlying Community mental health
paradigm. History of community mental health in the world and India

Unit II:

History of Institutionalisation and de-institutionalisation in the world. How do Mental


Institutions in India operate, their role in mental health care in India, its critique and alternatives
to mental institutions, general hospital psychiatry units

Unit III:

India’s model of community Mental health: Critical appraisal of National Mental Health
Programme and District Mental Health Programme

Unit IV

Role of NGOs and civil society organisations in mental health care delivery, advocacy and
awareness creation

Unit V:

Traditional Healing and mental health care

Unit VI:

Policy and Legal frameworks in mental health: Mental Healthcare Act; Rights of PWD 2016
Act; Allied Healthcare Professionals Act

Unit VII:

Care giver and user survivor perspectives in mental health and human rights
Methodology: Lecture, discussions, film screenings, guest lectures

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